<p>We have to take the exam if we take the class - it’s not an option. If you don’t pay for the exam, the school actually bills you as an obligation fee. For the most part, I would say that you definitely have to study for AP exams, but it really depends on the quality of the teacher. Sophomore year I had a fantastic teacher for AP World, reviewed over a few weeks but didn’t really “study” that intensely, and got a 5. Junior year I had an awful teacher for APUSH and studied like crazy. I think there are some students who can get away with doing little work and still do well, though - my ex-boyfriend, for example, never read any of the assigned chapters in APUSH, barely studied for the exam, and got a 5. Go figure.</p>